GEORGE TOWN: The Hungry Ghost Festival has been gazetted as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the state.
This makes Penang the first state to recognise the festival as State Heritage.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the recognition for the festival is not just about conserving a traditional practice but honouring the diversity of multicultural festivals as part of its identity.
“We have taken the initiative to recognise this festival as part of the state’s heritage.
“This is not only for preservation and conservation purposes but to promote festivals of our multiracial society in the state.
“The initiative is carried out through the State Heritage Commissioner’s office to identify cultural heritage that reflects the state’s identity,” he said at his office in Komtar yesterday.
Chow said the festival is a month-long event during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar with celebrations peaking on the 15th day.
“It is followed by the Chinese community who practise Taoism and Buddhism in Penang. It involves rituals to honour ancestors and wandering spirits believed to roam during the period.
“Throughout the festival, King of Hades’ tents and opera performance stages are set up in public areas.
“In Penang, there are more than 200 groups in various places that organise the festival during the seventh lunar month.
“In view of its historical and cultural value, the state government approved its nomination to be made part of the state’s heritage on April 8 this year and was gazetted effective June 25,” he said.
Chow said the nomination underwent detailed assessment by experts from the Tangible Cultural Heritage (Built Environment) Expert Committee before receiving endorsement from the State Heritage Council and approval at the state executive council meeting.
He said the state government also approved the designation of six sites as Heritage Sites under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011 on April 8 as well.
“The six sites are the Penang Hill Upper and Lower Funicular Train Stations as well as its tracks, the Datuk Koyah tomb, the Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple in Lebuh King, the Fooi Chew Association heritage building in Lorong Prangin, the Loo Pun Hong Temple in Lorong Love, and Kwangtung and Tengchow No. 1 cemetery in Jalan Mount Erskine.”
Chow said the Hungry Ghost Festival and the six sites will be officially declared and designated at the State Heritage Proclamation and Heritage Site Designation Ceremony on Oct 10.
